A lawsuit filed in Riverside County Superior Court alleges that county social workers failed to properly investigate reports of child abuse, leading to the death of seven-month-old Emmanuel Haro and continued suffering for his older sister.
The lawsuit, filed on behalf of Emmanuel’s three-year-old sister, contends that the Riverside County Department of Public Social Services neglected its duty to investigate a 2024 report of abuse within the Haro household. As a consequence of this alleged negligence, Emmanuel died, and his sister continued to endure physical abuse and neglect at the hands of their parents, Jake and Rebecca Haro.
“Our purpose in bringing this case is to seek justice for our 3-year-old client, but also to shine a light on a tragic failure by the Riverside Department of Public Social Services to protect a child who desperately needed protection,” stated attorney Roger Booth. “DPSS knew as well as anyone that Jake Haro was a very dangerous person and was not safe to be around children.” A spokesperson for DPSS stated that the county had not yet received the lawsuit but takes all allegations of child abuse or neglect seriously.
Emmanuel’s sister, who was placed in foster care after his death in August 2025, reportedly suffers from significant developmental delays, including an inability to speak or use a spoon, intense fear of men, and uncontrollable crying spells and insomnia, according to the lawsuit. This follows a history of abuse by Jake Haro, who had prior child abuse allegations dating back to 2018, when his two-month-old daughter suffered severe injuries, including a brain bleed, skull fracture, shaken baby syndrome, and multiple rib fractures, rendering her quadriplegic and blind. Jake Haro's parental rights to those children were terminated, and he was convicted of felony willful child cruelty.
The June 2024 hotline report that prompted the lawsuit noted that law enforcement had recently found a gun in Rebecca Haro’s purse, violating Jake’s probation terms. Despite requiring a response within 10 days, a social worker reportedly did not visit the home for 18 days. The complaint alleges that the social worker conducted a perfunctory and inadequate investigation, failing to challenge Jake Haro's misrepresentations about his criminal record or note the presence of an accessible gun in the home. Furthermore, the lawsuit claims the social worker inaccurately recorded prior abuse investigations and Jake Haro’s history of physically injuring children on a risk assessment form, resulting in a "low risk" score for future abuse and no required case monitoring.
Emmanuel was born in December 2024 and, along with his sister, allegedly suffered physical abuse from Jake Haro. Evidence presented in the criminal case indicated Emmanuel exhibited signs of head trauma and brain damage before his death in August 2025. His parents initially claimed he had been kidnapped, and his body was never found. Jake Haro was sentenced to 25 years to life for second-degree murder and child abuse, while Rebecca Haro received a 12-year, eight-month sentence for felony child abuse causing great bodily injury and involuntary manslaughter. Attorney Booth described the tragedy as preventable.
